Entry level Corvette Coupe to be unveiled next week?
04-07-2014, 08:41 PM
#42
Safety Car
04-07-2014, 08:47 PM
#43
Safety Car
You are forgetting GM used to sell a lot of decontented Corvettes. The cheapest you used to be able to get was a 300 horse/327 or 350, roadster (cheaper than a coupe), with a 4 speed and a radio. You had no PW, PDLs or leather seats. There was a huge cost difference between that and an all out fire breathing big engine car. At the time they were the most common Corvettes as most people couldn't afford the performance versions. Fully optioned or high performance cars from that era were rare and that is one of the reasons they bring big money at the auctions. With GM trying to bring in a newer younger Customer base for the Vette they have to have something at a good price point that beats whatever else might be on the market. That means something that is attractive to the young college graduate, has a performance level higher than cars in the same price range and can be afforded on a beginning salary.
Bill
Bill
04-07-2014, 08:52 PM
#44
My guess, it will be a wide body Stingray, LT1, steel rotors & brakes.
Options will include but not be limited to; A8, tires 19" in the front 20's in the rear, coupe or convertible.
Options will include but not be limited to; A8, tires 19" in the front 20's in the rear, coupe or convertible.
04-07-2014, 09:22 PM
#46
Melting Slicks
You are forgetting GM used to sell a lot of decontented Corvettes. The cheapest you used to be able to get was a 300 horse/327 or 350, roadster (cheaper than a coupe), with a 4 speed and a radio. You had no PW, PDLs or leather seats. There was a huge cost difference between that and an all out fire breathing big engine car. At the time they were the most common Corvettes as most people couldn't afford the performance versions. Fully optioned or high performance cars from that era were rare and that is one of the reasons they bring big money at the auctions. With GM trying to bring in a newer younger Customer base for the Vette they have to have something at a good price point that beats whatever else might be on the market. That means something that is attractive to the young college graduate, has a performance level higher than cars in the same price range and can be afforded on a beginning salary.
Bill
Bill
04-07-2014, 09:47 PM
#47
Le Mans Master
This would be a cool car, and perhaps the timing would be right, as Kia is looking to make something similar with their G4 concept. Equip it with tirbo 4 or a 320hp DI V6, it would compete squarely with the Genesis Coupe, FR-S, and the BRZ. If priced from the low to mid twenties, they might sell alot of them. But then, I don't know if Chevy wants a second two seater in the line up.
04-07-2014, 09:48 PM
#48
Burning Brakes
04-07-2014, 09:50 PM
#49
The Corvette is already inexpensive enough!!! If they come out with a cheaper model it will really hurt the brand and will lose some customers (possibly myself) forever!!!
04-07-2014, 09:55 PM
#50
Entry level Corvette Coupe to be unveiled next week?
Ain't gonna happen...because there just isn't any need to them to do so. GM is going to steer buyers to some version of the Camaro or the SS instead for the lower-price model.
Last edited by BlueOx; 04-07-2014 at 09:59 PM.
04-07-2014, 10:00 PM
#51
Race Director
At 57 years old, I figure I've been wrong about 7,583,825 times (5 per day).
BUT:
I am sure there will be no "de-contented" "value" C7. It makes NO sense plus it would be literally impossible to pull enough out to make the car that much cheaper. How much does the 5.3L V8 save over the LT1? How much does a SMC roof and hood save?
And lest we forget, here was Motor Trend's "rendering" of the C7 in September 2013, 4 months before the intro of the C7 and 11 months after Jalopnik got the car about 80% correct.
http://wot.motortrend.com/begin-coun...-profile-02-2/
Jimmy
PS. My guess is a convertible Z06, BTW
BUT:
I am sure there will be no "de-contented" "value" C7. It makes NO sense plus it would be literally impossible to pull enough out to make the car that much cheaper. How much does the 5.3L V8 save over the LT1? How much does a SMC roof and hood save?
And lest we forget, here was Motor Trend's "rendering" of the C7 in September 2013, 4 months before the intro of the C7 and 11 months after Jalopnik got the car about 80% correct.
http://wot.motortrend.com/begin-coun...-profile-02-2/
Jimmy
PS. My guess is a convertible Z06, BTW
04-07-2014, 10:16 PM
#53
Drifting
GM may have figured this out too. Now upon reflection, I might go for a decontented lower-powered lower-priced convertible with great handling, since I remember my S2000s so fondly. But few will agree with me, and I'd rather pay the price difference for a Z06 vert anyway, and there's no future in antagonizing the Corvette cult while trying to compete with the Subaru BRZ or Scion FR-S for big fun in a small car at a small price.
And another thing--we have seen spy shots of what looks like a widebody C7 vert test mule with the same wheels as a C7 Z06, but none of a bargain-basement FRC, and by now we should have. Let's hope against hope that GM is about to do the right thing instead of the boneheaded thing.
04-07-2014, 10:19 PM
#54
Burning Brakes
Nope!! I know many of y'all think GM is stupid but they have already tried this and it didn't work. The FRC C5! The economies of scale just aren't there to merit doing this and the FRC proved it. They had to come out with the ZO6 to save the FRC. Anyway...gonna be interesting either way.
If they followed this same formula on the C7, it would be a good thing. If they can make a cheaper C7 with the same LT1, drop 50-100lbs and remove some of the tech gizmos the purist don't want, I bet it would sell.
Now if they put a 5.3 in it, probably not a good idea.
Last edited by ck9887; 04-07-2014 at 10:22 PM.
04-07-2014, 10:21 PM
#55
Drifting
And lest we forget, here was Motor Trend's "rendering" of the C7 in September 2013, 4 months before the intro of the C7 and 11 months after Jalopnik got the car about 80% correct.
http://wot.motortrend.com/begin-coun...-profile-02-2/
http://wot.motortrend.com/begin-coun...-profile-02-2/
Thanks, I HAD forgotten that one already. Dig the GS gills ...
04-07-2014, 10:35 PM
#58
Pro
Hope that is not true,Will lower the status of the C-7's.Just when GM is trying to up the status to buyers like Porsche,MB.What they need to do is make a mini Corvette V6 $30,000 to$40000.This would get the kids started on Corvettes.GM please do not make a cheap Corvette that looks like the C-7.
04-07-2014, 11:15 PM
#59
Burning Brakes
I'll play the guessing game too! My guesses in order:
- Z06 vert
- Base car (not called Stingray)
- Z06X
- Grand Sport
- ZR1 (CorvetteBlogger mentioned that as a possibility today)
But what do I know?! I'll be at media day next Wednesday, so I'll get some pics!
- Z06 vert
- Base car (not called Stingray)
- Z06X
- Grand Sport
- ZR1 (CorvetteBlogger mentioned that as a possibility today)
But what do I know?! I'll be at media day next Wednesday, so I'll get some pics!
04-07-2014, 11:21 PM
#60
Le Mans Master
Love this statement. Ain't it the truth!! 
X 1,000 